Professional headshot of a smiling woman with long, wavy brown hair.

Windy Williams Alonso, PhD, MS, RN, FHFSA, FAHA

(Windy Alonso)

Associate Professor of Nursing
Chair, Department of Nursing Research
Department
Nursing Research
Office
McLeod 5010

Biography

Associate professor Windy Alonso, PhD, RN, FHFSA, FAHA, is an NIH-funded nurse scientist with deep expertise in heart failure and rural health whose research strategically aligns with the School’s aging and social determinants of health research areas of excellence. In her role as inaugural chair of the School’s Department of Nursing Research, she’ll continue to occupy both worlds: as a researcher and as an educator-mentor to emerging nurse scientists and students.   

Alonso earned federal funding to lead the HEART Camp research team, a study that promotes exercise among heart failure patients across diverse settings and aims to better understand heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (a condition causing stiffness in the left ventricle that prevents the heart from adequately filling with blood, despite the heart’s otherwise well-functioning pumping mechanism). To date, she’s earned more than $4 million in funding, including her most recent five-year, $3.9 million NIH R01 grant, as well as pre-doctoral F31 funding from NINR, and pilot funding from the Heart Failure Society of America, the Rural Nurse Organization, and the Midwest Nursing Research Society.   

Having worked clinically with populations from neonates to veterans, Alonso is also an ad hoc reviewer for HRSA, the CDC, for the NIH’s Early Career Reviewer Program, the NIH’s Center for Scientific Review, and for the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s (UNMC) graduate studies fellowship. She earned the Midwestern Nursing Research Society’s New Investigator Award in 2024, the American Heart Association’s Marie Cowan Promising Early Career Investigator Award, and has been repeatedly applauded by UNMC, too, including winning UNMC’s new investigator award in 2023, and earning the 2025 UNMC Mentoring of Graduate Students Award.   

A Fellow of the American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of America, and the National Rural Health Association, Alonso is widely published and regularly invited to present.  She also serves beyond her teaching, mentoring, and research roles, including for the Heart Failure Society of America conference, the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, and as part of the editorial board of the Journal of Cardiac Failure and Frontiers in Cardiology, and as a manuscript reviewer for 10 nursing journals.  

Publications

Advance Online Publications

Kang, J., Dzikowicz, D. J., & Alonso, W. W. (2025). American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing Liaison Report From the Communications Committee. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing, 10.1097/JCN.0000000000001177. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000001177

Alonso, W. W., Bills, S. E., Lundgren, S. W., Keteyian, S. J., Norman, J., Fisher, A. L., Zheng, C., Kupzyk, K. A., Wilson, F. A., Dudley, T. J., & Pozehl, B. J. (2025). HEART Camp Connect-Promoting adherence to exercise in adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. ESC Heart Failure. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.15341

Kc, O., Ellithi, M., Herdman, E., Westmark, D., Wildes, T. M., Peters, E. S., Bills, S. E., Alonso, W., & Bhatt, V. R. (2025). Exercise interventions and physical activity in adults living with and beyond blood cancer: a scoping review. Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-025-01822-4

Tlusty, G. C., Berger, A. M., Bhatt, V. R., Hacker, E. D., Noble, J. M., & Alonso, W. W. (2025). Factors associated with physical activity during hospitalization for hematopoietic cell transplantation and after discharge: A pilot study. Cancer Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000001494

Alonso, W. W., & Lee, C. S. (2024). Digital walking behaviors: could they be the "gait-way" to monitoring heart failure progression in community-based settings? Journal of Cardiac Failure. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.05.010. S1071-9164(24)00198-2. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.05.010.

Alonso, W. W., Pozehl, B. J., Kupzyk, K. A., Lundgren, S. W., & Diederich, T. (2024). Examining the influence of optimal guideline-directed medical therapy on patient-reported outcomes in adults with heart failure. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000001160

Schroeder, S. E., Pozehl, B., Struwe, L., Fisher, A., & Alonso, W. W. (2024). Examining long-term influences of frailty on outcomes for adults undergoing left ventricular assist device therapy. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000001157

Diederich, T., Burdorf, A., Pozehl, B., Bowman, S., Ferguson, K., Holder, K., Alonso, W.W., Stoller, D., & Lundgren, S. (2022). The role of a multidisciplinary heart failure clinic in optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy: HF-optimize. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Cardiopulmonary and Acute Care, 57, 95–101. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2022.08.010

Tlusty, G. C., Alonso, W. W., & Berger, A. M. (2022). Exercise interventions during hospitalization for stem cell transplantation: An integrative review. Western Journal of Nursing Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459221124433

Online Journals

Alonso, W. W., & Scheer, T. (2025). Daily symptoms and well-being trends reported by patients with heart failure. European journal of cardiovascular nursing, 24(5), 794–795. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvaf116. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvaf116

Deka, P., Salahshurian, E., Ng, T., Buchholz, S. W., Klompstra, L., & Alonso, W. (2025). Use of mHealth Technology for Improving Exercise Adherence in Patients With Heart Failure: Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e54524. https://doi.org/10.2196/54524. https://doi.org/10.2196/54524

Dzikowicz, D. J., Kang, J., & Alonso, W. W. (2024). American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing Liaison Report From the Communications Committee. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing, 39(5), 415–416. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000001121

Alonso, W. W., Keteyian, S. J., Leifer, E. S., Kitzman, D. W., & Sachdev, V. (2024). Adherence to exercise in adults with heart failure. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, 44(4), e17–e18. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCR. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCR.0000000000000892

Pandey, A., Keshvani, N., & Alonso, W. (2023). Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Exercise Intolerance in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction. JAMA Cardiology, 8(6), 584–585. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2023. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2023.0963

Keshvani, N., Shah, S., Ayodele, I., Chiswell, K., Alhanti, B., Allen, LA., Greene, S. J., Yancy, C. W., Alonso, W. W., Van Spall, H. G., Fonarow, G. C., Heidenreich, P. A., & Pandey A. (2023). Sex differences in long-term outcomes following acute heart failure hospitalization: Findings from the Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure registry. European Journal of Heart Failure, 25(9):1544-1554. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.3003

DeVon, H. A., Tintle, N., Bronas, U. G., Mirzaei, S., Rivera, E., Gutierrez-Kapheim, M., Alonso, W. W., Keteyian, S. J., Goodyke, M., & Dunn, S. L. (2023). Comorbidities are associated with state hopelessness in adults with ischemic heart disease. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Cardiopulmonary and Acute Care, 60,28–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2023.02.025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2023.02.025

Bovino, L. R., Toney, D. A., & Alonso, W. (2022). American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing Liaison Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 37(3), 202–203. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000892

Haas, D., Pozehl, B., Alonso, W.W., & Diederich, T. (2022). Patient satisfaction with a nurse practitioner led heart failure clinic. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 19(4), e104496. https://doi.org/e104496

Woods, M., Lundgren, S., Poon, C., Kupzyk, K., Alonso, W. (2022). Pre-left ventricular assist device cognition: A comparison of rural and urban implant recipients. ASAIO Journal, 68(3), 369-373. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000001491. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAT.0000000000001491

Deka, P., Pozehl, B.J., Pathak, D., Williams, M., Norman, J.F., Alonso, W. W., & Jaarsma, T. (2021). Predicting maximal oxygen uptake from the 6 min walk test in patients with heart failure. ESC Heart Failure, 8(1), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13167. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13167

Alonso, W.W., Faulkner, K.M., Pozehl, B.J., Hupcey, J.E., Kitko, L.A., & Lee, C.S. (2020). A longitudinal comparison of health-related quality of life in rural and urban recipients of left ventricular assist devices. Research in Nursing & Health, 43(4), 396–406. https:/doi.org/10.1002/nur.22052. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.22052

Alonso, W., Birriel, B., Kitko, L. & Hupcey, J. (2016). Response to letter to editor: Time to integrate sexual function in the health-related quality of life of patients with left ventricular assist device. Heart and Lung: The Journal of Cardiopulmonary and Acute Care, 45(3), 294. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2016.01.012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2016.01.012

Journal Articles

Salahshurian, E., Pozehl, B.J., Lundgren, S.W., Bills, S., Pandey, A., Carbone, S., & Alonso, W. W. (2024). "Working me to life" - Longitudinal perceptions from adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction enrolled in an exercise training clinical trial. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 23 (7), 763-770. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvae049

Sumarsono, A., Xie, L., Keshvani, N., Zhang, C., Patel, L., Alonso, W., Thibodeau, J., Fonarow, G., Van Spall, H., Messiah, S., Pandey, A. (2024). Sex disparities in longitudinal utilization and intensification of guideline directed medical therapy among patients with newly diagnosed heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Circulation. 149 (7), 510-520. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.067489

Billingsley, H.E., St-Onge, M.P., Alonso, W.W., Kirkman, D.L., Kim, Y, Carbone, S. (2024). Time of eating and mortality in U. S. adults with heart failure: Analyses of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2018. Nutrition. Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, 34 (2), 445-454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2023.10.013

Alonso, W. W., Kupzyk, K. A., Norman, J. F., Lundgren, S. W., Fisher, A., Lindsey, M. L., Keteyian, S. J., & Pozehl, B. J. (2022). The HEART camp exercise intervention improves exercise adherence, physical function, and patient-reported outcomes in adults with preserved ejection fraction heart failure. Journal of Cardiac Failure. 28 (3), 431-442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2021.09.003

Schroeder, S. E., Pozehl, B. J., & Alonso, W. W. (2021). Frailty assessment in heart failure and ventricular assist device populations: A review from the United States. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Cardiopulmonary and Acute Care. 50 (6), 941-952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2021.07.015

Alonso, W.W., Kupzyk, K., Norman, J., Bills, S. E., Bosak K., Dunn, S. L., Deka, P., Pozehl B. (2021). Negative attitudes, self-efficacy, and relapse management mediate long-term adherence to exercise in patients with heart failure. Annals of Behavorial Medicine. 55 (10), 1031-1041. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaab002

Alonso, W. W., Ryan, T. R., Lundgren, S. W., Tlusty, G., Castleberry, A. W., & Pozehl, B. J. (2021). Clinicians call for post left ventricular assist device implantation physical activity guidelines. ASAIO Journal (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs: 1992). 67 (10), e166-e168. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAT.0000000000001343

Warehime, S., Dinkel, D., Alonso, W., Pozehl, B. (2020). Long-term exercise adherence in patients with heart failure: A qualitative study. Heart & Lung. 49 (6), 696-701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.08.016

Miller, J.J., Pozehl, B.J., Alonso, W., Schmaderer, M., Eisenhauer, C. (2020). Intervention components targeting self-management in individuals with multiple chronic conditions. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 42 (11), 948-962. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945920902146

Norman, J.F., Kupzyk, K.A., Artinian, N.T., Keteyian, S.J., Alonso, W., Bills, S.E., & Pozehl, B.J. (2019). The influence of the HEART camp intervention on physical function, health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety and fatigue in patients with heart failure. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 19 (1), 64-73. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474515119867444

Alonso, W., Hupcey, J.E., Kitko, L., Pozehl, B., Kupzyk, K. (2019). Adverse-event free survival, hospitalizations, and mortality in left ventricular assist device recipients: A Rural-urban cohort comparison. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 34 (6), 454-464. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000597

Wilcox, J.E., Cameron, K.A., Harap, R.S., Shanklin, K.L., Grady, K.L., Cohen, E.R., Abicht, T.O., Adler, E.D., Alexy, T., Alonso, W., Beckman, J., Bjelkengren, J., Cagliostro, B., Cogswell, R., Colombo, P.C., Cotts, W., Haglund, N.A., Haverstick, S., Kiernan, M.S., ...Barsuk, J.H. (2019). Ventricular assist device driveline dressing-change protocols: A need for standardization. A report from the SimVAD investigators. Journal of Cardiac Failure. 25 (8), 695-697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2019.06.009

Birriel, B., Alonso, W, Kitko, L., & Hupcey, J. (2019). Decision-making about left ventricular assist device implantation: Family caregivers’ perspectives. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care. 48 (4), 308-312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2019.03.002

Alonso, W., Kitko, L. & Hupcey, J. (2018). Intergenerational caregivers for patients with advanced heart failure. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice. 32. (4), 413-435. doi: 10.1891/1541-6577. https://doi.org/10.1891/1541-6577.32.4.413

Evans, M., Hupcey, J., Kitko, L. & Alonso, W. (2018). Comparison of the life deions of newly diagnosed versus chronic stage D heart failure patients. Journal of Patient Experience. 5. (3), 219-224. https://doi.org/10.1177/2374373517750412

Alonso, W., Hupcey, J., Kitko, L. (2017). Caregivers' perceptions of illness severity and end of life service utilization in advanced heart failure. Heart and Lung: The Journal of Cardiopulmonary and Acute Care. 46 (1), 35-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2016.09.001

Kitko, L., Hupcey, J., Birriel, B. & Alonso, W. (2016). Patients’ expectations of a left ventricular assist device pre and post implantation. Heart and Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care. 45 (2), 95-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2015.12.003

Hupcey, J., Kitko, L. & Alonso, W. (2016). Patients’ perceptions of the illness severity of advanced heart failure. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. 18 (2), 110-114. https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000000229

Hupcey, J., Kitko, L. & Alonso, W. (2015). Palliative care in heart failure. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America. 27 (4), 577-587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnc.2015.07.007

Columns, Editorials and Op-Eds

Carbone, S., & Alonso, W. W. (2025, August 1). The Need for Speed: Improving Muscle Power for Longevity. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 100(8), 1281–1284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2025.06.011 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2025.06.011

Alonso, W., Crouch, E., & Thorell, N. (2019, October 1). Telehealth in Rural America. National Rural Health Association. https://www.ruralhealth.us/getmedia/f84308bb-408b-4452-becb-61426ed82fb5/2019-NRHA-Policy-Document-Telehealth-In-Rural-America.pdf